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New London’s Revolutionary Past
The eve of the American Revolution
brought men and even boys from all over the colonies to stand up and
fight for their freedom from Great Britain. Many citizens of Bedford
County, feeling the same fervor, swore their allegiance to the American
cause. Those who survived to see the American flag hoisted above that of
the Union Jack must have been overwhelmed with pride.
While the majority of Bedford County’s soldiers marched far and wide,
other served out their tours of duty much closer to home. The soldiers
who remained on the home front were stationed at the then county seat of
New London. John Lowry and John Holley state in their pension
declarations that they spent their time guarding Tory prisoners under
house arrest as well as those confined to the jail. One can only imagine
what the tension between loyalists and patriots must have been like in
such a situation. In some cases, the soldiers were probably guarding
former friends, colleagues and family members.
At this time New London was
bustling town with merchants, tavern keepers and people who practiced a
wide variety of trades. It was likewise a hub of military activity.
According to the Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.) report on the
history of Bedford County, General Washington’s army was supplied with
indispensable ammunition garnered from the local military stores. The
weapons that New London supplied to the American armies were stored in
the local arsenal. The W.P.A report states that the arsenal was located
behind what later became known as the Bedford Springs Hotel. Even though
this report states that Daniel Boone used the arsenal as his ammunition
depot, the actual date of its construction is unknown. In her book
New London Today and Yesterday, Daisy I. Read states that a black
man named Uncle Jim Milton housed his blacksmith’s shop in what was the
old magazine.
In a June 1781 letter the General
of military stores, John Pryor, write to Colonel Davies saying that lead
“at Bedford is of the first importance, as the operations of General
Nathaniel Greene entirely depend upon its supplies”. In a separate
letter, he requests that Colonel Davies provide tin, cartridge paper and
other accoutrements. This letter was written just a few months after the
battle of Guilford Courthouse where the troops of Major General Lord
Cornwallis defeated Major General Nathaniel Greene’s men. Due to this
defeat, General Greene must have needed a major boost to his supply of
arms. This illustrates that New London was vital to the patriot cause.
Francis Hunter, William Arthur and
Thomas Hackworth, three local men guarding the arsenal, were probably
there when Major General Marquis de Chastellux visited the area in 1780.
This gentleman noted, “There is likewise a military magazine established
there and several workshops for repairing arms. Its situation in the
middle of the woods, far distant from the seat of war as well as
commerce, does not require it should be fortified, but nature has
prepared everything to make it a strong place.” The arsenal, in fact,
may not have been as safe as the Major General perceived. Many sources
claim that Lieutenant Colonel Banastre Tarleton and his cavalry were
sent to seize the arsenal and its valuable weapons, but were outsmarted
by the patriots. For upon learning that the British were nearby on the
James River, the munitions were transported by wagonloads into the
woods. They were then removed to Crow’s Ferry in Botetourt County.
On July 20, 1781, Captain Bohannon
wrote to Colonel William Davies, Commissioner of War in Richmond, that
the military supplies had been moved “twenty miles further up the
country being apprehensive the enemy coming to that post.” A few days
later Bourne Price, in whose charge the arsenal remained, wrote that the
only items lost were “a few swords, about forty pounds of powder, owing
to the barrels giving way when removed.”
By that summer of 1781 conditions
for the soldiers remaining at New London were going down hill. Bourne
Price was concerned that his men would certainly abandon their post if
they did not receive their pay. He lamented that no one would give them
credit and stated that Captain Grice was not able “to buy a chicken”. He
says, “it is discouraging to the men to hear that money is furnished at
every other post, but they receive none”. Late that summer Bourne Price
wrote to Colonel Davies begging that his men receive clothes, as they
had not been given any in three years. Henry Greer sent a similar letter
saying, “my men is almost neacked for want of clothing and this poast
without any money which render it disagreeable as we cannot purchise.”
That winter Colonel Nathaniel Reid grumbled about his men having small
pox and requested molasses, vinegar and rice from the Secretary of War.
This suffering extended well into the next year and probably did not end
until the close of the war.
Even after the war with England
ended, the weapons remained at the New London arsenal. A general return
of military stores in February 1784 shows that there were 200 muskets in
need of repair. By 1793 it seems that New London had regained a full
arsenal. At this time the Secretary of War presented a return of
ordinance, arms and military stores to the Senate. The items mentioned
in this return show that the New London arsenal contained several
different types of shot, cartridges and over 2000 muskets. Bayonets,
swords and other miscellaneous items were also listed. Damaged stores
included gunlocks, lanterns and drums. These supplies remained at New
London as late as 1812 as is shown in a letter from Thomas Jefferson to
James Madison. In the letter Jefferson says, “I have taken the liberty
of drawing the attention of the Secretary of War to a small deposit of
military stores at New London…” He goes on to say, “I really thought
that General Dearborne had removed them to Lynchburg, undoubtedly a
safer and more convenient deposit.” At this time it was thought that the
New London arsenal was not well situated due to its inaccessibility and
lack of a close river for transportation and removal of the stores.
No one is quite sure when the arsenal went into disrepair.
Perhaps it was used during the War of 1812 and maybe even the Civil War.
At some point it was torn down and a vital piece of colonial history was
lost. Even though the landscape of New London has changed so that it is
hard to imagine what the original bustling town would have looked like,
one can not overlook the key role that this hamlet played during
America’s War for Independence. The arsenal, its outbuildings and the
soldiers stationed there proved vital to the outcome of the war. Perhaps
with some further research and archeological projects the glory of New
London can be revived.
By Karen Glover
Bibliography coming soon |
